How to come back from a 0.5 GPA? Help me!

[Dreamislandcaptive]

I fail 3 classes( psychology, sociology and public speaking). I feel foolish because the classes weren't hard. I was just being stupid and thought nothing could go wrong. I recently re-enrolled in CC to retake the classes and I know that I am ready to start the journey towards my destiny(sounds corny, right?) Sadly , I've wasted the last 2 years chasing what could never be. The plan is to retake those classes plus a couple med school prerequisite. In addition to study more and daydream less. Another thing is I want to take the mcat my junior year so how should set up my schedule? When is the best time to start studying? Is this something I can come back from?
For majors-I am looking at Early childhood education, mass communication, women's and gender studies and cell and molecular biology. Which one of these would be the best option? Also, would the old grades be replaced?

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[bananafish94]

I recently re-enrolled in CC to retake the classes

The plan is to retake those classes plus a couple med school prerequisite.

This is a good start.

Another thing is I want to take the mcat my junior year so how should set up my schedule? When is the best time to start studying?

This is not even something that should be on your radar right now. Focus on classes.

Which one of these would be the best option?

The one you can get best grades in and are most interested in as a possible alternate career.

Also, would the old grades be replaced?

For DO, yes. For MD, no.

Is this something I can come back from?

Seven semesters of 4.0 would make your cumulative GPA ~3.5, which is on the low end of acceptable for MD and average for DO. But your grades will be under severe scrutiny after having a semester this bad (without a really, really, really good reason). If you perform supremely well from here on out, depending on how many years you have left in school, I think it's possible.

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

Above response is a good one. Nothing short of exceptional from here on out is going to cut it. What changes are you going to make?

 

[Dreamislandcaptive]

This is a good start.

This is not even something that should be on your radar right now. Focus on classes.

The one you can get best grades in and are most interested in as a possible alternate career.

For DO, yes. For MD, no.

Seven semesters of 4.0 would make your cumulative GPA ~3.5, which is on the low end of acceptable for MD and average for DO. But your grades will be under severe scrutiny after having a semester this bad (without a really, really, really good reason). If you perform supremely well from here on out, depending on how many years you have left in school, I think it's possible.

I was suffering from severe depression. Even so, if I retake the classes wouldn't the grades be replaced? I was thinking if i was able to get some good volunteer hour and good LORs- wouldn't that help? I am also an African american from a poor financial background. I am a first generation college student. I already have like 30 hours of shadowing an internal medicine/ emergency physician and 20 hours of volunteering with people with disability. I worked as a caregiver in the past.

 

[bananafish94]

I was suffering from severe depression. Even so, if I retake the classes wouldn't the grades be replaced? I was thinking if i was able to get some good volunteer hour and good LORs- wouldn't that help? I am also a African american from a poor financial background. I am first generation college student.

I'm sorry to hear about that. Unfortunately, my understanding is that depression or any other mental health issues are not explanations you want to give adcoms because of the stigma surrounding it. To answer your question, if you retake the classes then the grades will be replaced for DO schools--not MD schools! And obviously good ECs and LORs will be a boon to your application, but that doesn't change the fact that GPA is one of the most important aspects of your application.

 

[ZedsDed]

For majors-I am looking at Early childhood education, mass communication, women's and gender studies and cell and molecular biology. Which one of these would be the best option?

One of these is not like the others. If I understand you correctly, you have only taken 3 classes thus far?

 

[Dreamislandcaptive]

Above response is a good one. Nothing short of exceptional from here on out is going to cut it. What changes are you going to make? Also why did you not withdrawal?

I plan to study more, man up and ace my speeches and basically believe in myself. I know medicine is my calling, so now, It is a matter of fighting for my dream. I stutter so I've always doubted whether I could be a doctor. Also,I've tried other options but medicine always comes out and draw me back in.

 

[Dreamislandcaptive]

I'm sorry to hear about that. Unfortunately, my understanding is that depression or any other mental health issues are not explanations you want to give adcoms because of the stigma surrounding it. To answer your question, if you retake the classes then the grades will be replaced for DO schools--not MD schools! And obviously good ECs and LORs will be a boon to your application, but that doesn't change the fact that GPA is one of the most important aspects of your application.

I plan to get it right this time.

 

[bananafish94]

I plan to get it right this time.

One foot in front of the other. Best of luck my friend.

 

[Dreamislandcaptive]

One of these is not like the others. If I understand you correctly, you have only taken 3 classes thus far?

Yes sir. I like them for different reasons but I am honestly leaning more towards cell and molecular biology. I love genetics, biology and all things related.

 

[aalamruad]

I plan to study more, man up and ace my speeches and basically believe in myself. I know medicine is my calling, so now, It is a matter of fighting for my dream. I stutter so I've always doubted whether I could be a doctor. Also,I've tried other options but medicine always comes out and draw me back in.

Not good enough. You need to come up with very concrete steps to revolutionize the quality of your approach to your academics. Create a real plan not only to kick ass in each individual subject via an incredible work ethic, but also prepare a reliable safety net for instances where you stumble and need to quickly reach out for help (i.e. tutors, office hours, advisors, mentors, etc.). Cliches and uninformed ideas about your destiny won't hold up to overwhelming rigor in the same way that a well-thought-out plan will.

I don't mean to be a jerk, but you need some tough love right now my friend.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Yes sir. I like them for different reasons but I am honestly leaning more towards cell and molecular biology. I love genetics, biology and all things related.

Pause. You've taken 3 classes so how do you have the slightest clue? I know I wouldn't have after 3 classes. Take some generals to start and find out which field you really like. What I ended up choosing is far from where I thought I would be when I started undergrad.

 

[Dreamislandcaptive]

Pause. You've taken 3 classes so how do you have the slightest clue? I know I wouldn't have after 3 classes. Take some generals to start and find out which field you really like. What I ended up choosing is far from where I thought I would be when I started undergrad.

true

 

[Dreamislandcaptive]

Not good enough. You need to come up with very concrete steps to revolutionize the quality of your approach to your academics. Create a real plan not only to kick ass in each individual subject via an incredible work ethic, but also prepare a reliable safety net for instances where you stumble and need to quickly reach out for help (i.e. tutors, office hours, advisors, mentors, etc.). Cliches and uninformed ideas about your destiny won't hold up to overwhelming rigor in the same way that a well-thought-out plan will.

I don't mean to be a jerk, but you need some tough love right now my friend.

I understand where you are coming from. Last time, I didn't seek help soon enough so I definitely plan to go to the learning center from the get go. Also when I say study It means full blown time schedules and such. I have one more chance and i am going to make the best of it. As it is no longer about just passing. If I am going to be a doctor it is time to start behaving like someone with a future.

 

[JustAPhD]

Pause. You've taken 3 classes so how do you have the slightest clue? I know I wouldn't have after 3 classes. Take some generals to start and find out which field you really like. What I ended up choosing is far from where I thought I would be when I started undergrad.

True. I loved genetics until I actually took genetics.

Just take it one class at a time, OP (figuratively not literally). Don't worry about the MCAT yet; worry about getting As in every class. It'll be a long but not impossible process.

 

[Goro]

MD = averaging repeated classes.
DO = replaced repeated classes with better grade.

A long history of sustained academic excellence will allay Adcoms' worries about poor performance, even from mental illness.

But make sure your depression is in check. Medical school is a furnace and I've seen it break even healthy students.

I was suffering from severe depression. Even so, if I retake the classes wouldn't the grades be replaced? I was thinking if i was able to get some good volunteer hour and good LORs- wouldn't that help? I am also an African american from a poor financial background. I am a first generation college student. I already have like 30 hours of shadowing an internal medicine/ emergency physician and 20 hours of volunteering with people with disability. I worked as a caregiver in the past.

 

[Dreamislandcaptive]

MD = averaging repeated classes.
DO = replaced repeated classes with better grade.

A long history of sustained academic excellence will allay Adcoms' worries about poor performance, even from mental illness.

But make sure your depression is in check. Medical school is a furnace and I've seen it break even healthy students.

I definitely plan to apply to both MD and DO schools when the time comes.